Following the sentencing of Elizabeth Workman in March 1873, petitions requesting commutation of the death penalty were signed by nearly 1,500 local citizens, including the entire Lambton County Council and Alexander Mackenzie, who would later that year become Canada’s Prime Minister.
But their pleas were in vain. She was hanged.
I have written a book about this story, a virtually unknown piece of Canadian history, and will be placing a copy in public libraries and bibliothèques in all parts of Canada and in the hands of each federal Member of Parliament, Canadian Senator and our Governor-General. Moreinformation is available on-line at http://robemcca.wix.com/bobmccarthy#
This book has been written with three objectives in mind
to tell the story of what was in 1873 referred to by the local newspaper as a ‘Travesty of Justice’
to make more Canadians aware of this case
to bring about posthumous commutation of the sentence from death by hanging to time served prior to death, thereby vindicating the efforts in 1873 on behalf of this woman by so many residents of Sarnia-Lambton
Please help by learning more about this travesty of justice and by signing this petition.
